On Tuesday, March 16, Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope urged the Centre to provide 2.2 crore vaccines for the coronavirus with a supply of at least 20 lakh doses each week.
According to reports, Rajesh Tope, who is on a visit to Delhi, called on Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan. Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan was also present on the occasion.
Speaking about the same, Tope stated that the COVID-19 vaccination campaign is being implemented on a large scale successfully in the state. In view of the situation, health workers, emergency service providers as well as all those above 60 years of age are being vaccinated. Citizens over the age of 45 years and who have underlying health conditions too are getting the jab.
He further added that the state government aims to vaccinate 1.77 crore people with the first dose by May and the second by June. For this, 2.20 crore Covishield and Covaxin vaccines are required. Meanwhile, the state health department has sought permission from the central government to set up vaccination centres in 367 private and government hospitals, out of which, 209 hospitals have been permitted to do so.
Moreover, earlier on March 15, a total of 2.43 lakh persons received the Covishield vaccine dose while 21,085 received Covaxin dose across the state. To date, more than 31.33 lakh recipients have been inoculated.
Currently, the Centre procures the vaccine from manufacturers at about INR 220 per dose. Based on the demand, private hospitals are permitted to purchase doses for INR 150 and they, in turn, can charge INR 100 extra as a service fee from the vaccine recipient.
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